Last Friday, I got to interview the director of Wanted, Russian filmmaker, Timur Bekmambetov who’s also the producer of the upcoming animated movie, 9, directed by Shane Acker. He also talked about the upcoming Russian film BLACK LIGHTNING, and that he will film MOBY DICK as soon as he’s done with WANTED 2. Special thanks to Focus Features and Victoria from Rocket for making this interview possible. Check it out after the jump…
RS: How did you get involved with Shane Acker’s new movie 9?
TB: My partner producer, he found Shane somewhere, I think in Sundance, at the same time I was at a Film Festival in Berlin. And he sent me this short. I was blown away and I called back immediately and said ‘Let’s try it out, let’s help make a big movie’. And then I present it to Focus, my project that I brought, I brought 2 projects. And they fell in love with it and it happened, finally.
RS: And how did Producer Tim Burton get into the equation?
TB: I have an agent who’s also an agent of Tim Burton and he pulled us together in the room and we decided to make the movie together.
RS: We’ve seen the short film of course, what made made you, when you saw the short film, to want to tell yourself, ‘ya know, this will be good as a movie, we gotta make this into a movie’?
TB: Because the short, it looks really like.. you see the world through the door but just a little bit open. You don’t see the whole world behind the door. It was really interesting to open the door for the audience.
RS: So that’s the difference between the short film and the movie version?
TB: Because it’s clearer. It’s the same thing, the same world, the same character but the short was a teaser, it showed you just a little bit of the world
RS: Did you get involve in the casting process? What was the extent of your involvement as a producer of 9?
TB: No. We just helped Shane to make the movie. We discussed but it’s his decision and it’s his choice
RS: So you didn’t help tweak it in any way?
TB: We discussed things but everytime Shane had the final say, yes or no.
RS:How long was the process?
TB: 4 years. We began 2005. It was 2005 I think February. Yeah February 2005 when I saw his short film. And then we began production process in late winter, maybe Christmas, I don’t remember and then all 3 years.
RS: I haven’t seen the movie version yet, are some of the questions will be answered, is it going to lead up to a possible sequel?
TB: I’m sure, I’m sure. Because the story.. we didn’t save the world in the first movie. Because the same thing, it’s complete story, very emotional but the problems still exist. We didn’t save the world
RS: People have been talking that 9 might be a possible Oscar contender. Do you think the movie’s good enough to go up against Pixar or any other animated movies released this year?
TB: I think it will go against Pixar and Disney. The same way our characters go against big machines
RS: Do you think it’s worthy? It’s got what it takes?
TB: Yes, because it’s the nature of the project to go against big powerful machines, which are like Pixar and Disney
RS: What do you think other animated movies don’t have that 9 has? What is 9‘s strength?
TB: Our strength is not something animals. It’s a real thing. It’s an epic movie.
RS: So it’s more adult oriented rather than kid friendly?
TB: It’s kid friendly because kids want to be adults but.. it’s action.. it’s first time Shane made an animation which is not cute, not something animals, it’s a war, and action,.. it’s like 300 but animation
RS: That’s how you describe it.. like 300 but animation?
TB: Yes
RS: Have you ever been involved with animation projects before?
TB: This is my first animated movie. Which is why for me, I decided I wanted to produce because it’s animated but it doesn’t look like animation, it doesn’t look like… it’s like with the 3D characters
RS: Are you going to direct any animated project in the future?
TB: Yes. Because I’m very jealous (laugh) because I think this is really good
RS: Any particular project you’d like to reveal to us?
TB: No, I mean it’s there but I don’t want to. It’s still in the planning
RS: What are the audiences going to see during the panel today in Hall H?
TB: Yes we’re going to show a piece of the movie, the cast will be there, Tim Burton will be there, Elijah Wood, Shane.
RS: I gotta ask.. tell us about WANTED 2?
TB: It’s coming, it’s coming behind the corner (laugh) As you know, they can shoot from around the corner (laugh). We’re working hard to make it happen this winter to produce the movie
RS: Any casting info you’d like to tell us besides James McAvoy?
TB: No. We’ve had meetings, we have choices but I didn’t make decision yet?
RS:How big is the scope for this sequel?
TB: It will be global, a big movie, happening in India, Russia, United States.
RS: Now what is this flying car movie that you produced also?
TB: Yes it’s called BLACK LIGHTNING, a movie I produced with my friends in Russia. Universal financed it and we’ll distribute it globally. It’s the first Russian superhero movie… a movie about Russian student.. suddenly he found his shitty car can fly. So he become superhero to save people secretly
RS: So it’s not Back to the Future sorta car?
TB: No. There’s humor in it. This is a shitty car. He’s ashamed that he had his car. His father gave him the car, he doesn’t have money too.. but suddenly he has a powerful tool that will fight.
RS: And when will the U.S. audiences get to see it?
TB: I think trailer will be available in a few weeks online. I think where it is?.. I will place it on my blog maybe,: tbekmambetov.livejournal.com. I don’t know yet but I think the movie is going to be here Christmas
RS: So you make films in Russia and U.S.
TB: Yes. I fly back and forth on a plane.
RS: Do you find that overwhelming?
TB: No, it’s good.. I really like having different.. because it’s boring to stay in one place for a very long time.
RS: It seems that you don’t mind lending your names, helping today’s filmmakers whose films you see would have potential
TB: Yes, and it also tells a lot because when you produce animation like 9, it means to learn a lot from Shane. He’s smart and a good person. It’s a lot to produce together, to produce for him, it means to learn a lot from him.
RS: What genre haven’t you tackled? You’ve tackled action, animation, anything in the future like romantic comedy or something else?
TB: I’ve made romantic comedy 2 years ago. It was the biggest movie in Russia ever, the biggest box office hit ever. And I have a sci-fi project
TB: Russian or Hollywood-based?
TB: Hollywood.. genre is not so important for me. Because I like to change things. I was too much involved in vampire movies for 4 years and then I wanted something new and different for me and there’s MOBY DICK and I think I will shoot MOBY DICK after WANTED 2 which is a big deal for me.
RS: After WANTED 2, you’re going to direct WANTED 3 right?
TB: I’m not sure yet (laugh)
At the Comic-Con ’09 panel for 9, Timur revealed that the story for WANTED 2 would ‘wake up’ Fox, which is the character’s name for Angelina Jolie, this confirms previous info stating that Timur wants Jolie to return for the sequel
Check out the international trailer for BLACK LIGHTNING and read the previous info on MOBY DICK to get yourself familiar with the projects before they hit the big screen.
9 opens September 9th, 2009
